Crux Year

Chapter Eleven - Royal

Dad Vince barely said two words to me over breakfast this morning, his attention fixated on his phone. Though I made it out of the house unscathed, my stomach is still in knots.

What if he knows we broke into his office?

But, if he knew, he wouldn't have let me slide by without reprimand. That sort of misbehavior would, at the very least, earn a tongue lashing, if not a hard smack to the side of the head.

He could still find out somehow.

I feel sick to my stomach, but the moment I see Shay's smiling face, all fear fades. Anticipation of talking to him floods through me making my skin buzz. He's talking to his friend, Trace, when I approach them in the hallway outside of class.

"Hey," I say, sharing a secret smirk with Shay.

His cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink that has the corners of my lips lifting in amusement. A flustered Shay is a cute Shay. Disappointment chases away the momentary happiness I feel. If everything goes smoothly tonight, I'll be long gone by tomorrow. That means no Crux ceremony. No match with Shay. No future with him either. Me and Dad Morgan will be on our own.

"Did you hear the announcement?" Shay asks when he finally finds his voice. "The whole Crux Year class is taking a trip to the reproduction facility."

His blue eyes gleam with excitement which is another punch to the gut. He should be looking forward to a future with me. Instead, he'll be matched with someone else. A sub. Probably some old dude with white chest hair or something.

"I didn't hear," I utter, gaze fixed on his mouth I already miss kissing. "When do we go?"

"Today. Mr. Preston says it's been cleared by our parents. He's pulling the bus around now."

Trace begins to chatter with Shay about babies and incubation and the Crux ceremony. I don't pay much attention to what they're saying. My attention is solely on how Shay's mouth moves as he speaks. The pretty shade of red on his lips. The nervous way he gnaws on the corner of his inside bottom lip when Trace is speaking. I crave to haul him into my arms and kiss his perfect mouth while murmuring promises I absolutely can't keep.

Maybe I could come back for him.

Once me and Dad Morgan get settled beyond the Rock City walls. I could somehow get a message to him and bring him with me. HIs dads could come too if that's what he wants.

Aching loneliness weighs me down until I'm no longer able to look at Shay. He doesn't need a life on the run or one filled with day-to-day survival. Here, his parents love and care for him, so it's safe. Out there would be too hard for him.

It'll probably be too hard for me.

But I'd rather die out there being free than live here trapped in a life I don't want.

"Everything okay?" Shay asks, his hand encircling my wrist. "You seem down."

His openness to touch me in front of everyone thrills me. I wish I could kiss him too, though that's completely forbidden and would land us in serious trouble. Trouble I don't need this close to breaking Dad Morgan out.

"I'm fine," I assure him. "Just nervous."

His friend Trace has moved on to talk to someone else, leaving the two of us alone. It makes me wonder what Shay told Trace, if anything. I don't know how close they are but based on the fact they're always hanging out together at school, I'd say they're pretty good friends.

It brings me to the realization I know nothing about my match. We were supposed to spend the next two years learning about one another before marriage.